Russian Roulette: An Introduction

I'm beginning to feel paranoid that my neighbor, who is completely anti-Bush, is a Communist. He has a strange obsession for Russian vodka and loves the color red. I tell my parents about my suscpicions and they just smile, saying I watch too many movies and study too hard for my IR classes. I wish Senator McCarthy were here....I know, it sounds a little dated, but really, isn't an American citizen behaving like this still a threat? Has Russia really just dropped off our radar and been overtaken by the security threats that smaller nations pose?

I believe there is a potential link between the rise of such nations' nuclear ambition and US-Russian relations, which have soured, especially under the leadership of Vladimir Putin.

Without understanding the reasons behind the change, the American people and the United States government will not address the concerns of Putin in a diplomatic and appropriate way. Though nostalgia may support the fact that the Cold War was easier on the US than, say, a war against terrorism and faceless enemies, the fact of the matter is we cannot have another Cold War with Russia in this day and age.

First, to get to know President Putin, take a look at his recent appointment of 30-year-old Ramzan A. Kadyrov as President of Chechnya. Kadyrov is the current Russian Security Chief. The New York Times says, Ramzan A. Kadyrov is “a widely feared young official whose security forces have been accused of kidnappings, torture and other abuses” will lead Chechnya as its new president.